Trial diving

Schnuppertauchen means one or more dives in which non-diving the scuba diving under the guidance of an instructor can experience. The trial diving should enable those interested to find out through practical experience whether diving would be something for them and serves to acquire new customers for the diving instructor or the diving school . In contrast to completing an entire basic diving training course, introductory diving is much less time-consuming and cost-intensive.

Procedure of a trial dive

Overview of the PADI education system

Participants usually read through and sign agreements first to settle any legal issues. Before the dive itself, the lead diving instructor provides all the necessary theoretical knowledge so that the participants - who are not trained for diving - can take part in the trial dive without risk. After putting on the necessary diving equipment , the participant gets into the water under the supervision and close accompaniment of the diving instructor. First, breathing from the compressed air diving device is practiced on the surface of the water . In shallow water you will then practice blowing out the diving mask and taking the regulator out of your mouth and putting it back in. These two skills are essential for the safety of the participants. Then you can either play underwater games or explore the area in shallow water. The trial dive usually takes about two to four hours.

Content

During the scuba diving, the participant learns the minimum necessary safety guidelines and skills that are required for diving under the close supervision of a diving instructor. Scuba diving therefore includes:

• Introduction to the diving equipment used during trial scuba diving and how to use it to move underwater.
• Breathing Underwater From A Compressed Air Diver And How To Avoid Barotrauma .
• Learning the most basic skills to be used on every dive.
• Explore a safe environment that is appropriate for the participants and local conditions.
• Information on how to enroll in basic diving training (e.g. OWD) and become a certified recreational diver.

Place of trial diving

The trial diving usually takes place in a swimming pool . But it is also possible to hold it in a shallow and safe place in a lake or the sea . Depending on the offer, after the first dive in the pool, there is a second or more shallow trial dives in the lake or sea.

After the trial dive

Immediately after the trial dive, the participants should not undertake air travel or at higher altitudes (more than 400 meters above the location of the trial dive). Depending on the duration and depth of the dive, it is only possible to fly or ascend to greater heights 8 to 24 hours after the scale dive. If this time is not reached, there is a risk of decompression sickness , which can be fatal.

Flying or climbing great heights just before diving is not a problem.

requirements

CMAS training system

Most diving schools require that the participants of the introductory dive prove their suitability for diving with a medical certificate . Alternatively, a form can also be used with which the participant can submit and confirm a self-assessment of his or her state of health.

From the age of 8 it is possible to take part in an introductory dive. However, some providers require an older age. The competitor should be able to swim a distance of at least 25 meters without a buoyancy aid.

Trial diving programs

The international standard ISO  11121 standardizes the requirements for introductory diving. The standard calls the introductory diving " Introductory Training Program " (literally translated from English as the " Introductory Training Program "). Despite the standardization, the content sometimes differs depending on the provider and his affiliation with a diving organization . The following programs are structured in accordance with ISO 11121:

CMAS Introductory Scuba Experience (ISE):

Participants should be at least 14 years old and be able to swim. The Introductory Scuba Experience includes a theory lesson, a pool dive where several diving skills are practiced and an open water dive to a maximum depth of 10 meters.

NAUI Try Scuba / Passport Diver (TS / PD):

Participants must be at least 10 years old. However, from the age of 8 it is possible to take part in the pool dive. The Try Scuba program includes a theory lesson and a pool dive in which several diving skills are practiced, as well as one or more open water dives. For the first open water dive it is recommended not to dive deeper than 6 meters. For further dives a limit of 12 meters applies. Participants who have completed two open water dives receive a NAUI Passport Diver certificate, which enables them to later take part in further introductory dives in the open water accompanied by a NAUI instructor without repeating the pool dive.

NAUI Tandem Diver (TD):

The SSI training system

The Tandem Diver program is an alternative to the NAUI Try Scuba and differs mainly in the individual support for the participant and the lack of opportunities offered by the NAUI Passport Diver .

PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD):

Participants should be at least 10 years old and able to swim. The Discover Scuba Diving program includes a theory lesson and a pool dive that practices multiple scuba skills and one or more open water dives. The maximum permissible depth for open water dives is 12 meters. The PADI Discover Scuba Diving includes the theoretical content and diving skills included in the first lesson of the PADI Open Water Diver course. Therefore, the PADI Discover Scuba Diving can be counted towards a PADI Open Water Diver course for one year , which means that the first pool dive is omitted.

PADI Bubblemaker :

The Bubblemaker program is a trial dive in the swimming pool for children aged 8 and over. The participants are introduced to scuba diving in a playful way by a diving instructor. The maximum permissible diving depth is 2 meters.

SSI Try Scuba (TS):

Participants must be at least 8 years old. The Try Scuba takes place in a swimming pool and, in addition to the dive, includes a theory lesson. You may dive to a maximum depth of 5 meters.

SSI Try Scuba Diving (TSD):

Participants must be at least 10 years old. The SSI Try Scuba Diving is structured similarly to the Try Scuba program. The main difference is that it includes an open water dive and can be credited towards a later SSI Open Water Diver training. There is a depth limit of 12 meters for open water diving.

Other types of trial scuba diving

There are also programs for trained divers, which are also known as trial dives . These include B. Programs that enable an experienced diver to try out technical diving , rebreather diving or cave diving .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Trial Scuba Diving. Start your diving adventure. Tauchtreff Dresden, accessed on November 27, 2017 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b} Trial Scuba Diving. dive.steha.ch, accessed on November 27, 2017 . 
3. ↑ ^{a b} Discovery Scuba Diving in the lake. dive.steha.ch, accessed on November 27, 2017 . 
4. ↑ ^{a b} Discover Scuba® Diving. PADI , accessed November 27, 2017 . 
5. ↑ Recreational diving services - Requirements for introductory training programs to scuba diving (ISO 11121). ISO , accessed April 29, 2015 . 
6. ↑ CMAS International Diver Training Standards and Procedures Manual. (PDF) Chapter 2 - CMAS Introductory SCUBA Experience Training Program. CMAS International , May 29, 2012, accessed November 27, 2017 . 
7. ↑ ^{a b c} Standards and Policies Manual. Edition 2017. NAUI Worldwide Headquarters, accessed November 27, 2017 . 
8. ↑ ^{a b} PADI Instructor Manual, Version 2017, German, pp. 142–147
9. ↑ Seal Team and Bubblemaker Program. PADI , accessed November 27, 2017 . 
10. ↑ ^{a b} Matthias Krenn: Trial diving. Diving shop Piberstein / Graz, accessed on November 27, 2017 . 
11. ↑ Training Standards. Version 2017. SSI International GmbH , August 17, 2017, pp. 43–44 , accessed on November 27, 2017 (languages ​​:, various). 
12. ↑ Training Standards. Version 2017. SSI International GmbH , August 17, 2017, pp. 45–46 , accessed on November 27, 2017 (languages ​​:, various). 
13. ↑ Just give TEC diving a try. Technical diving for testing. UW Service UG, accessed on November 27, 2017 . 
14. ↑ SF2 eCCR trial diving. Tauchakademie Bodensee UG, accessed on November 27, 2017 . 
15. ↑ Cavern introductory diving for recreational divers. Bergwerktauchen UG, accessed on November 27, 2017 .